I love this because I’ve used writing to process and problem-solve my entire life. It’s only been in recent years as I’ve learned more about neuroscience that I’ve understood how using writing in this way is not simply as soft as the word “journaling” implies. Rather it literally trains our brains to continue problem-solving even when you’re not consciously thinking about it.

I often tell new writers that writing is a 2-part process, the thinking part and the writing part, and when they come to a tricky part of writing their manuscript, it’s especially important to give themselves space to solve it…taking walks, having quiet time, and free-writing by hand about what they’re trying to solve.

Creativity is not random…it’s a process and a practice.